APEX Insight: Primera Air has taken delivery of the first of eight Airbus A321neo aircraft, featuring Acro Aircraft Seating’s new Series 7 premium economy seat and Series 6 economy seats, marking the first time Acro has supplied both premium and economy seating on the same aircraft.

Primera Air’s new A321neo is the first to feature Acro’s brand new Series 7 premium economy seats: 16 seats in a 2–2 configuration across the first four rows. Economy class is made up of 182 of Acro’s Series 6 seats laid out in a 3–3 configuration, so the aircraft consists of 198 seats in total.

While Series 6 seats offer a 31/32-inch pitch and 19/20-inch width, Series 7 seating gives passengers a 36-inch pitch and a seatback width of 25.5 inches at its widest point (23 inches from arm to arm). Primera Air’s Series 7 seats also include USB and socket charging.

The new seating was created in collaboration with UK-based Factorydesign, which also helped to develop Acro’s Superlight Series 3 and Series 6 seats.

“Over the last decade we have helped Acro to establish a design philosophy of optimising space and comfort, reducing weight, minimising part count and, crucially, to define a form of design honesty,” commented associate director of Factorydesign, Matthew Fiddimore. “We have supported Acro by working closely with their talented engineering team in an approach which maximises the aesthetic style and function of every part and feature. The results define a clear Acro design language and attitude, creating great looking seats with genuine advantages in comfort for the passenger.”

“We are very excited to offer a product and service concept that merges low fares and high quality.” – Andri M. Ingolfsson, Primera Air

Last July, Primera Air announced that its new A321neo aircraft will operate from three bases in Europe – London Stansted Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Birmingham Airport – to New Newark Liberty International Airport (daily) and Boston Logan International Airport (four times weekly).

Andri M. Ingolfsson, president and chairman of Primera Air, commented, “Owing to unmatched efficiency of these new-generation aircraft, we will be able to offer unprecedented prices to passengers from France and the UK to the US. At the same time, we are very excited to offer a product and service concept that merges low fares and high quality – perfect both for leisure and business travelers.”

In a further enhancement to the passenger experience, Primera Air says in-flight Wi-Fi will be available in both its premium and economy classes. The remaining seven A321neos on order are due to be delivered to Primera Air before the end of 2018.